Updated 4.02pm
TWO PATIENTS ARE being treated for injuries they sustained in a fire in a ward at Mayo General Hospital in Castlebar yesterday evening.
Two units of fire service from Castlebar attended after being called to the fire at 8.40pm. The blaze had started in a one-bed ward in the hospital and it is understood the room was suffered extensive damage. The general area around the room also suffered smoke damage.
Four members of staff were assessed in the hospital’s Emergency Department last night as they were suffering from smoke inhalation but they were later discharged. Thirty patients had been evacuated from their ward. They were allowed back in at around midnight.
Health Minister Leo Varadkar said he has asked the HSE for a full report.
“I understand that there was a fire on the ward which may have been linked to somebody smoking on the ward, but that hasn’t yet been confirmed.”
Varadkar said a full investigation into what happened will be carried out, adding the current focus is making sure patients and staff who were affected are “well looked after”.
In a statement, the hospital said the cause of the fire is now being investigated and the families of the patients who were injured have been contacted. They did not give details of the severity of the injuries sustained.
The fire service handed over to gardaí last night and the scene of the fire was preserved.
The hospital said it wanted to acknowledge the prompt action of its staff and of the Mayo fire services in dealing with this incident.
- with reporting by Órla Ryan
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